The V-22 Osprey is a medium lift, multi-mission, vertical/short takeoff and
landing (V/STOL), tilt-rotor aircraft developed by Bell Helicopter Textron and Boeing to fill
joint service combat operational requirements for the year 2001 and beyond.

The V-22 operates as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. The
nacelles rotate 90 degrees forward once airborne, converting the Osprey into a turboprop aircraft.
It can provide V/STOL with a payload of 24 troops, or 6,000 pounds (2,722kg) of cargo, at 430
nautical miles (796km) combat range, or V/STOL with a payload of 8,300 pounds (3,765kg) of cargo
for a range of 220 nautical miles (407km). The tilt-rotor aircraft is self-deployable world wide
with a ferry range over 2,100 nautical miles (3,889km).

This very unique aircraft is available in three configurations for U.S. Joint
Services Operational Requirements: the CV-22 for long-range
special operations missions for the USAF's Special Operations Command, the
MV-22 for combat assault and assault support for the U.S.
Marine Corps, and the HV-22 for combat search and rescue,
special warfare, and fleet logistic support. (Sea trials of the MV-22 have taken place and will be
followed by Operation/Evaluation from September 1999 to May 2000.)

History

Bell XV-15 Tilt-Rotor

The XV-15 Tilt-Rotor testbed
aircraft was designed by Bell Aircraft in the mid-1970s under a contract with NASA and the U.S. Army.
It was capable of taking off and landing vertically like a helicopter and of flying
horizontally when its "proprotors" were rotated forward and downward. NASA's Ames Research
Center, Mountain View, CA, and the Army's Air Mobility Laboratory cooperated in a program to
obtain two aircraft for flight research. Ship #1 was given NASA number 702, and ship #2 was
number 703. The first aircraft arrived at Ames on 23 March 1978.

After wind-tunnel testing in Ames' 40 x 80 foot wind-tunnel, the aircraft began its
contractor flight tests at Ames on 23 April 1979. Bell, U.S. Army and Marine Corps pilots flew
it on 140 separate missions over the next year before turning the aircraft over to Ames.
That center, in turn, chose to perform the initial flight research at the Dryden Flight
Research Center, Edwards, CA, where aircraft number two began flight research with Dryden
pilots on 3 October 1980, followed by aircraft number one (previously the wind-tunnel model)
the following year.

The aircraft were powered by twin Lycoming T-53 turboshaft engines connected by a
cross-shaft that drove two three-bladed, 25 foot diameter metal rotors. The engines and
main transmissions were located in wingtip nacelles to minimize the operational loads on the
cross-shaft system and, with the rotors, tilt as a single unit. For takeoff, the proprotors and their
engines were used in the straight-up position where the thrust is directed downward. The XV-15 was
then able to climb vertically into the air like a helicopter. In this VTOL mode, the vehicle could
lift off and hover for approximately one hour. Once off the ground, the XV-15 had the ability to fly
in one of two different modes. It could fly in a helicopter mode or an airplane mode. When operating
as a conventional airplane, the XV-15 could cruise for more than two hours.

The successful flight research with the XV-15 Tilt-Rotor testbed led to the military's V-22
Osprey and to the possibility of using tilt-rotor aircraft as a solution to the problem of
crowded airports and highways.

A V/STOL assault transport designed to supersede the aging/conventional large
helicopters built by Boeing and Sikorsky, the V-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor hybrid
rotory/fixed-wing aircraft offering an excellent combination of payload and range.
It can takeoff and land like a helicopter, but, once airborne, its blades can be
rotated to convert the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed,
high-altitude flight.

The V-22 Osprey is the first aircraft designed from the ground up to meet the
needs of all four U.S. armed services. The aircraft can transport U.S. Marine Corps assault
troops and cargo using its medium lift and vertical takeoff and landing (V/STOL)
capabilities. It meets U.S. Navy requirements for combat search and rescue, fleet
logistics support, and special warfare support.

The V-22 Osprey made is maiden flight on 19 March 1989. Since that time,
the first and fifth prototypes have crashed, leaving only three aircraft for
testing. The V-22's induction into active service is planned for 2000.

Service Requirements

U.S. Air Force (Special Operations Command)

The Air Force SOF/USSOCOM has the most stringent mission requirement for the
V-22. Due to the anticipated extended exposure to a high threat environment, the
CV-22 will the capability to travel 500 nautical miles at or below 500 feet above
ground level, locate a small landing zone, infiltrate and exfiltrate a team of 18
special operations forces and return to base. This must be done covertly at night
and, if necessary, in adverse weather. The CV-22 will have enhanced survivability
by virtue of the Electronic Warfare suite specific to the SOF mission as well as
meeting the survivability standards identified for the "baseline" MV-22 weapons
system. This V-22 variant is slated to replace the MH-53J and MH-60G and augment the MC-130
fleet in the USSOCOM Special Operations mission. (Required quantity: 30)

U.S. Marine Corps

As a replacement for the CH-46E and CH-53D Marine Corps
assault helicopters, the MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft is a V/STOL medium lift
assault, self-deployment, and sustained land operations capable aircraft. Designated
as the "baseline" variant, the MV-22 must provide combat assault transport of Marines
in the initial assault waves and follow-on stages of amphibious operations and
subsequent operations ashore. It must also be capable of supporting the following
secondary mission tasks: combat assault transport of supplies and equipment,
evacuations and maritime special operations, mobile forward area refueling and
rearming operations, casualty evacuation, and tactical recovery of aircraft and
personnel (TRAP) operations. The aircraft must therefore be self-deployable, capable
of handling 24 fully-equipped combat troops, capable of operationally lifting
external loads up to 10,000 lbs and able to operate in adverse weather,
day or night from air capable ships. (Required quantity: 360)

U.S. Navy

The United States Navy has a requirement for a specially configured V-22
variant known as the HV-22. These will be used for shipborne combat search and
rescue and fleet logistics support. As of 1999, detailed requirements have not
yet been established. (Required quantity: 48)

The U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy require that the V-22 be compatible
with below-decks stowage, flight deck elevators, flight deck edge clearance for
the wheels, control island clearance for the rotors, rapid turn-around times, and the limited
availability of maintenance facilities on aircraft carriers or air capable ships. The Osprey's
airframe footprint, tail configuration, and stowed dimensions are all affected by these
requirements. Of these, the most defining characteristic is the requirement to
operate from a launch and recovery spot located next to the control tower or island
of a helicopter carrier. The clearances to the island structure on one side (12 feet 8 inches)
and the deck edge on the other side (5 feet) define a very precise limitation on overall
wingspan and available rotor diameter.

The V-22's tilt-rotor design can also be adapted to missions not specified
by current service requirements. With its speed, range and internal cargo capacity, the Osprey
could be adapted to meet numerous other missions including aerial refueling, medical evacuation,
and executive/VIP transport.

Advantages

Better Than A Helicopter

The V-22 provides vertical takeoff and hover performance similar to a
conventional helicopter. It can takeoff from small, unimproved, or confined
areas and still fly long-range missions. Because of the combination of high
speed, long-range and large payload capacity, it offers the warfighter
significant productivity increases compared to a conventional helicopter.

Better Than An Airplane

The V-22 has the efficiencies of a twin turboprop without the need to
takeoff or land on a runway. It can operate from small unimproved sites or a
large variety of surface ships and still insert combat troops and equipment
over long ranges while hovering over a landing zone.